India and Her Neighbours Class 7 Questions and Answers SST Part 2 Chapter 2

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India and Her Neighbours Questions and Answers Class 7 SST Part 2 Chapter 2

India and Her Neighbours Class 7 Question Answer

The Big Questions (Page 29)

Question 1.
What defines a ‘neighbour’? Is it just shared land borders?
Answer:
A ‘neighbour’ is country that shares a land boundary. For example, India and Nepal. A maritime neighbour is a country connected by a shared, sea or ocean, even without a direct land border. For example, India and Sri Lanka. So, it is not just about shared land borders. It also includes countries in close proximity, such as maritime neighbours.

Question 2.
How do geography and history influence the nature of India’s relationships with her neighbours?
Answer:
India’s relations with its neighbours are shaped by both geography and history. Its long borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, and sea links with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, affect trade, security, and culture. Shared rivers and mountains bring cooperation but also disputes. Shared culture, like Buddhism and Hindu traditions, built closeness. But colonial legacies, partition, wars with Pakistan, and clashes with China created tensions. Thus, India’s relations mix friendship and rivalry, with geography binding nations together and history both uniting and dividing them.

Question 3.
In what ways are India and her neighbours interconnected today?
Answer:
India and her neighbours are connected in many ways beyond borders. Trade, travel, and culture link them closely. People cross borders for work, study, and festivals, while countries share rivers, traditions, and history. They also cooperate on security, climate, and peace. These ties show that neighbours build strong relationships through cooperation, exchange, and shared responsibilities.

Let’s Explore (Page 30)

Question 1.
Identify the three large water bodies that surround India in the map. (See map on the page no. 31 of the Textbook.)

Answer:
Three large water bodies are-

• The Arabian Sea to the West
• The Bay of Bengal to the East
• The Indian Ocean to the South

India and Her Neighbours Class 7 Solutions

Question 1.
Explain who a maritime neighbour is with two examples with respect to India.
Answer:
A maritime neighbour is a country connected to another by a shared sea or ocean, even without a direct land border. Two examples with respect to India are-Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Question 2.
How has Buddhism created links with India’s neighbours? Give examples to explain your answer.
Answer:
Buddhism created strong cultural and spiritual links between India and her neighbours. Buddhism originated in India but it spread to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. For example-

• Buddhism is a powerful link between India and China. Buddhist monks and pilgrims travelled and shared teachings.
• Bhutan and India maintain deep spiritual connections. Bhutanese pilgrims visit sacred Buddhist sites in India.
• India holds special spiritual significance for the people of Myanmar, many of whom visit India during pilgrimages.
• Ancient stupas and monasteries exist in these countries.

Question 3.
What does ‘open border’ policy mean? How does the India-Nepal ‘open border’ policy affect the lives of people living along the border?
Answer:
Open border means free movement across borders without visa and passport. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950) between India and Nepal opened borders for free movement of people and goods between the nations. This policy between India and Nepal has affected the lives of people significantly. It has enabled people from both the sides to access healthcare, education, employment and maintain family relations.

Question 4.
The chapter says, “Being neighbours is not just about geography.” Explain this statement with an example.
Answer:
The statement “Being neighbours is not just about geography” means that countries are connected in many ways beyond sharing borders. For example, India and Nepal are neighbours not only because they share land boundaries but also because they share deep cultural, religious, and historical ties. People travel freely, celebrate festivals together, and exchange traditions. Similarly, India and Sri Lanka are linked through the sea, trade, and shared history. These examples show that neighbours are connected through culture, cooperation, and common experiences, not just by geography.

Question 5.
What are the different ways in which India has helped smaller countries in her neighbourhood? Explain with examples.
Answer:
India has helped smaller countries in her neighbourhood in different ways. This can be explained with following examples-

• India helped to restore the Ananda temple in Myanmar that has been damaged by earthquake.
• India helped Afghanistan in education, healthcare and infrastructure development. India also supported Afghanistan in the construction of the Afghan Parliament building and the ZaranjDelaram highway.
• India helped Maldives during 2004 Tsunami, 2014 water crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic.

Question 6.
How do shared challenges become opportunities for cooperation? Were there examples in this chapter to illustrate this?
Answer:
Shared challenges can bring countries together because they need to help each other solve common problems. Issues like natural disasters, health crises, and climate change encourage cooperation. By working together, countries share resources, knowledge, and support, there by building trust and stronger relations. For example, India helped the Maldives during the 2004 tsunami, the 2014 water crisis in Male, and the COVID-19 pandemic. India also supports neighbouring countries during earthquakes and floods. These actions show that common problems can become opportunities for cooperation and better relations.

Question 7.
If borders were drawn only by culture and connections, how would the map look different?
Answer:
If borders were drawn only by culture and connections, the map would look very different. As-

• Areas with similar languages, food habits, traditions and festivals would come together.
• Cultural regions would be larger and not limited by political boundaries.
• Borders would be more flexible and overlapping showing cultural links.

Question 8.
On blanks maps:
(1) Label India’s neighbours.
(2) Draw arrows showing cultural flows (e.g., food, festivals, languages) between India and her neighbours.
(3) Imagine and redraw new “borders of friendship” that connect neighbours through rivers, trade routes, or cultural zones.
(4) Collect pictures of the flags of the countries listed in this chapter and write your observations.
Answer:
(1) India’s neighbours

(2) Cultural flow arrows

• India ↔ Nepal/Bhutan → Festivals, languages, traditions.
• India ↔ Bangladesh → Languages, food, music.
• India ↔ Sri Lanka → Buddhism, trade.
• India ↔ China → Trade
• India ↔ Myanmar → Trade, culture

(3) New ‘borders of friendship’
Rivers: Ganga-Brahmaputra region.
Trade routes: India-Southeast Asia sea routes.
Cultural zones: Buddhist and Hindu heritage regions.

(4) Students will do themselves. Sample is given below: